Al Roker’s Animated Series ‘Weather Hunters’ Sets July Premiere on PBS KIDS

Today PBS KIDS announced the premiere date of Weather Hunters, a new animated STEM series for viewers ages five to eight from Al Roker Entertainment, the production company helmed by Emmy-winning weatherman and Today host Al Roker. The show is designed to support kids’ learning about Earth science and meteorology through adventure and comedy to cultivate their awareness, curiosity and caring about how weather and climate impact individuals, communities and our global society.

Weather Hunters will premiere July 7 on PBS KIDS in English and Spanish.

“Weather has always been a passion of mine, and inspiring young minds to explore its wonders has been one of the most fulfilling parts of this journey,” said Roker. “With Weather Hunters, I’m thrilled to share that passion with a new generation, including my granddaughter, Sky, who reminds me every day of the importance of leaving a better planet for our kids.”

Synopsis: Each 22-minute episode of Weather Hunters follows the adventures and explorations of weather detective and force of nature Lily Hunter (Tandi Fomukong; Kindergarten: The Musical) and her family. Lily’s dad, Al (Al Roker), is the fun-loving, beloved host and weathercaster of a long-running TV program (any similarity to actual Al Roker is purely intentional!). Dot (Holly Robinson Peete; 21 Jump Street), Lily’s multitasking mom, is producer of the family’s weathercasts, while Corky (Kapri Ladd; Danger Force), is an 11-year-old budding documentarian who loves capturing exciting weather events on video. Rounding out the Hunter family is Benny (Lorenzo Ross), the five-year-old brother who is always drawing or painting something he has seen during the family’s weather adventures.

The Hunters’ primary goal is to learn as much as they can about weather to benefit the community and the planet by solving weather mysteries, sharing vital information, and encouraging stewardship of the environment. They are continuing in a great family tradition that started with Al Hunter’s grandfather, Wallace Reed Hunter (LeVar Burton; Star Trek: The Next Generation), one of the original WWII Tuskegee weathermen who went on to become one of the first African American weather broadcasters. The series also feature Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary) as the Hunters’ neighbor, Ms. Joyce.

Actress Yvette Nicole Brown (Community) sings the main title.

The animated stories spotlight natural weather phenomena, giving the series an original, contemporary look. Weather Hunters will explore kid-relatable, STEM-based themes and activities, showcasing the wonder and science of weather in ways that are accessible to all learners. Among the key topics are observing and tracking weather patterns, investigating the weather at different times of the year and in different places around the world, and the connection between weather, humans and their environment.

Digital content for kids, parents, and teachers will launch in tandem with the series to reinforce the show’s messages and encourage further engagement and learning, with the first game from the series allowing kids to create their very own weather reports.

“Weather impacts all of us every day, from our activities to our health and well-being, and we’re so happy to be collaborating with Al Roker and his team at Al Roker Entertainment on this timely new series that helps teach foundational science concepts in a fun way,” said Sara DeWitt, Senior Vice President and General Manager, PBS KIDS. “Weather Hunters will help equip kids with the building blocks to start to understand weather overall, and encourage them to use these STEM skills to make observations, collect data, and investigate the weather where they live, too.”

Created by Al Roker, Weather Hunters is produced by New York-based Al Roker Entertainment and Dete Meserve’s Silver Creek Falls Entertainment, Inc. Meserve (Ready Jet Go! Space Camp), an accomplished creator and producer of award-winning films and television shows, is executive producer and showrunner. The series was developed by three-time Daytime Emmy winner Carin Greenberg (Tumble Leaf, Duck & Goose) who serves as executive producer. Daytime Emmy-nominated John Semper, Jr. (Jay Jay the Jet Plane, Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock) serves as executive producer and head writer. Two-time Emmy winner Lisa Tucker serves as executive producer for Al Roker Entertainment.

The show’s animation is produced in collaboration with Island of Misfits in Nova Scotia, Canada, with partners Phillip Stamp and Dana Landry. Games are produced with Anna Jordan-Douglass, PhD at Makefully Studios.

Educational consultants and advisors include Sara B. Sweetman, PhD, Associate Professor of Education in the College of Education and Professional Studies at the University of Rhode Island (URI), who directs the Guiding Education in Math and Science Network (GEMS-Net); and Ethan Greenberg, meteorologist, educator, former vice president of the Cornell Chapter of the American Meteorological Society, and graduate research assistant at the National Drought Mitigation Center.

Weather Hunters  is made possible with funding from Anne Ray Foundation, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.